Philosophy · Similar reads
Books like The Vignelli Canon
The best books like The Vignelli Canon are The Design of Everyday Things, Steal Like an Artist, and Ways of Seeing. The Vignelli Canon by Massimo Vignelli is about design principles, typography, visual discipline. If that's what drew you in, here are 12 books that share its DNA — each summarized on Superbook, and ready to chat with in the app.
- The Design of Everyday Things
01
Donald Norman · Psychology
The Design of Everyday Things began as The Psychology of Everyday Things when first published in 1988, and Donald Norman revised it substantially for a 2013 edition that updated the examples for a digital age.
A kindred philosophy read.
Read the summary → - Steal Like an Artist
02
Austin Kleon · Self-help
Steal Like an Artist is Austin Kleon's short, illustrated guide to the creative process, built around the premise that nothing is truly original — all creative work is built from and inspired by what came before.
A kindred philosophy read.
Read the summary → - Ways of Seeing
03
John Berger · Philosophy
Ways of Seeing began as a BBC television series in 1972 and was published the same year as a slim, deliberately designed paperback.
A kindred philosophy read.
Read the summary → - The Elements of Style
04
Strunk & White · Self-help
The Elements of Style is a short book about writing English clearly and without waste.
A kindred philosophy read.
Read the summary → - Don't Make Me Think
05
Steve Krug · Business
Don't Make Me Think is Steve Krug's short, plainspoken guide to web usability.
A kindred philosophy read.
Read the summary → - Grid Systems in Graphic Design
06
Grid Systems in Graphic Design
Josef Müller-Brockmann · Philosophy
Josef Müller-Brockmann's Grid Systems in Graphic Design, first published in German and English in 1981 by Niggli Verlag, is the closest thing graphic design has to a foundational technical text.
Both dig into typography.
Read the summary → - The New Typography
07
Jan Tschichold · Philosophy
The New Typography, published in German in 1928 as Die neue Typographie, is Jan Tschichold's manifesto for a modernist approach to printed communication.
Both dig into typography.
Read the summary → - Just My Type
08
Simon Garfield · History
Just My Type is Simon Garfield's popular history of fonts and typography, aimed at general readers who have become dimly aware that fonts matter without having the vocabulary to explain why.
Both dig into typography.
Read the summary → - Laws of UX
09
Jon Yablonski · Science
Laws of UX is Jon Yablonski's collection of ten principles drawn from psychology and cognitive science that bear directly on user interface design.
Both dig into design principles.
Read the summary → - Making and Breaking the Grid
10
Timothy Samara · Self-help
Making and Breaking the Grid is a textbook for graphic designers that does something most design textbooks avoid: it teaches both halves of its title with equal seriousness.
Both dig into typography.
Read the summary → - Meggs' History of Graphic Design
11
Meggs' History of Graphic Design
Philip B. Meggs · History
Meggs' History of Graphic Design is the standard reference text for the history of visual communication, covering the development of writing and printed images from prehistoric cave markings through the digital revolution.
Both dig into typography.
Read the summary → - The Elements of Typographic Style
12
The Elements of Typographic Style
Robert Bringhurst · Science
The Elements of Typographic Style is Robert Bringhurst's comprehensive treatment of typography as both craft and art.
Both dig into typography.
Read the summary →
Books like The Vignelli Canon: quick answers
What are the best books like The Vignelli Canon?
The best books like The Vignelli Canon by Massimo Vignelli are The Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman, Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon, Ways of Seeing by John Berger, The Elements of Style by Strunk & White, Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug, plus 7 more below. Each was chosen for themes it shares with The Vignelli Canon, such as design principles, typography, visual discipline.
What should I read after The Vignelli Canon?
A natural next read after The Vignelli Canon is The Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman. A kindred philosophy read. Other strong choices are Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon, Ways of Seeing by John Berger, The Elements of Style by Strunk & White.
What books are similar to The Vignelli Canon by Massimo Vignelli?
The Vignelli Canon centers on design principles, typography, visual discipline. Books with a similar feel include The Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman, Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon, Ways of Seeing by John Berger, The Elements of Style by Strunk & White, Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug, Grid Systems in Graphic Design by Josef Müller-Brockmann — all free to read and chat with on Superbook.
